Name: Arbitrary Nature of Time
Total time: 3 min
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 45 ml Rye whiskey 50% abv; 30 ml Red bitter liqueur; 20 ml Cherry brandy; 2 dash Orange bitters; 1 dash Mole bitters

Ingredients

1 ¹⁄₂ fl oz

Straight rye whiskey (100 proof /50% alc./vol.)

1 fl oz

Italian red bitter liqueur

²⁄₃ fl oz

Cherry (brandy) liqueur

2 dash

Orange Bitters by Angostura

1 dash

Mole bitters

How to make

Glass

Prepare

Select and pre-chill an OLD-FASHIONED GLASS.

Prepare garnish of orange zest twist.

Method

STIR all ingredients with ice.

STRAIN into ice-filled glass (preferably over a large cube or chunk of block ice).

Garnish

EXPRESS orange zest twist over the cocktail and use as garnish.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol

Medium

Boozy

Sweet

Medium

Dry/sour

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of Arbitrary Nature of Time contains 241 calories

Alcohol content:

2 standard drinks
28.81% alc./vol. (57.62° proof)
27.7 grams of pure alcohol

Comments & Discussion

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Calvin Grant Premium Member 33w

Thank you Kirk and Maks for creating this and of course Simon for bringing us this unusual offering!

George Jetson Premium Member 1y

Continuing my journey of pairing a bold rye with cherry liqueur. Mole bitters is another surprise showing off as a versatile bitters. This appeals more to me than a straight up Boulevardier. Helped me to break out of my Black Manhattan rut too. This and the Empyrean were nice departures for me.

This is another cocktail like the Chartreuse Manhattan or what some call an Amber Dream, that definitely benefits from some dilution. I stirred it for about 90 seconds and poured it over a large block ice cube. The little hits of cherry and spicy chocolate helped to break up the dominance of the Campari. The cherry melds with the Campari and the spice from the mole bitters raises the profile of the rye. The orange oil and bitters also were appropriate in a supporting role. Lots of interesting little highlights on the finish after the bitter red liquid subsides.

Matt Premium Member 1y

Delicious and visually appealling - the Campari (and maybe the cherry brandy) combine to give it a distinctive, saturated red color. The backbone of the cocktail is the spicy rye, but IMO the cherry brandy (I use Luxardo), Campari and xocalatl bitters take turns leading the flavor - initally a bit of almond/nut from the cherry brandy, the bitters kick in to add even more dimension and breadth, and then the pleasant bitterness of the Campari takes you into the finish. Excellent and elegant!

Jeremy Harrold 2y

Rye and Campari are the first most noticeable flavours though the bitters and cherry notes reel them back, making it more approachable.

John CARR Premium Member 2y

Like shogi, first outing for xocolatl bitters, and they’re quite the show! Used the listed 12 drops/one dash any it was mighty potent. A real flavour explosion this one! I’d be tempted to take the Campari back a smidge for my taste. But a brilliant flavour feast nonetheless, and a great way of celebrating winter solstice.

John CARR Premium Member 2y

Actually slightly dilution helped - topped up with a few mills of ice melt from the mixing glass opened up the flavours and allowed the xocolatl to create almost a zing on the tongue. Wow 🤩!!

Calvin Grant Premium Member 33w

Whoa! What a spice bomb! Initially kept tasting cinnamon although I couldn' t taste it in Bitterman's Mole. Perhaps that combination of ingredients has some kind of Time Lord magical flavour amplification properties like say, inside the Tardis?

John CARR Premium Member 33w

Ooo I’d totally forgotten about this! Guess what I’m having for dessert tonight?! Was just pondering uses for that lovely fresh bottle of cherry Heering!

John CARR Premium Member 33w

Just remade. Love how the Campari fruit and cherry work together! I think I’d be tempted to split the Base with half bourbon next time, just to tame the spice a little - I found the rye just slightly over powering its friends.

Calvin Grant Continue thread (1 reply)

Shogi Redbrook Premium Member 2y

Fully warrants the portentous name. Wonderfully balanced late-nighter with layers of bittersweet flavours that all support and highlight one another. Great first experience of Xocolatl mole bitters for me, they tie this one together perfectly.

Steven Jepson Premium Member 2y

I must have got the measures perfect - nothing jumped out and all the flavours just worked together to produce a perfect late night easy sipper. The cherry brandy bringing up the after taste and mellowing the red bitters.
This is going to get added to my late night range.